2) Horses exposed to temperatures below 15° F for prolonged periods can have increased airway inflammation due to the colder temperatures. It is advisable to bring horses inside if the weather calls for persistent temperatures less than 15 degrees (i.e. the whole day not just the "low")
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3) To help your horse adjust to a winter diet of hay instead of grass make sure you begin to offer your horse hay before your pasture is covered in snow.

4) Often winter weather decreases the amount of time you spend exercising your horse. If your horse is in a stall and on a decreased work load think about decreasing his or her grain slightly. This can help avoid extra energy as well as extra pounds. Over graining in the winter can also lead to colic episodes.

5) To keep your barn warm it's best to decrease drafts of cold air passing through it, but wintertime ventilation is very important. Respiratory irritants such as dust, mold, and ammonia can build up in a tightly sealed barn causing airway irritation and respiratory problems. You should not feel a draft but air flow is important.

6) Body clipping can be useful in highly active horses to avoid long cool out periods and accumulation of sweat in the winter coat. Blankets are necessary for all body clipped horses but are rarely needed for horses that have normal winter coats. Skin conditions that are brought on by winter weather and moisture can be controlled by keeping your horse dry in a stall or with a waterproof turnout sheet or blanket.

7) With winter comes snow and snow can lead to painful ice balls in shoes if you are not prepared. Pulling shoes for the winter or adding snowball pads to shoes is advisable if you plan on turning your horse out to enjoy the snow.

8) While on hay during the winter, many older horses tend to lose weight. Having these horses' teeth floated while they are on hay can help them to maintain their weight. Any horse having trouble maintaining weight during the winter should have its teeth evaluated.

9) Maintaining a good body condition score throughout the winter can help your horse stay warm, and active. Monitoring your horse's body condition can also help you to notice heath problems before they become serious issues. Weight taping or just judging your horse's fat cover over his or her ribs, tail head and back by feeling for ribs can be a good way to judge if your horse is getting enough feed. It is also important to keep up on your deworming schedule during the winter.

10) Diet changes such as adding bran mashes to your horse's diet for winter are not effective or called for. Often such changes can upset the bacteria in the gut of a horse and cause more problems then they cure. Using warm water on senior feeds can create a mash that is easy for older horses to eat and is a healthy way to help them maintain body condition when they can no longer get enough nutrients from their hay.